ABSTRACT
This chapter considers an often neglected topic in data quality in books such as this: data dissemination. Although high standards of data documentation and metadata are required if any survey is to be of use to analysts, in the case of household panels it is even more necessary for careful thought to be given and for resources to be devoted to dissemination in all its forms. After all, panel studies, being the social science equivalent of scientific laboratories or observatories, are precisely created to be resources for the wider community of scholars, other users and policy-makers. It is therefore important that those who intend to create these resources, as well as data users, are aware of the basic issues concerning panel data dissemination. This is the purpose of this chapter. Hence, in what follows I first consider general issues concerning documentation and metadata before turning to the particular case of household panel studies.
